Storage rack



1961 R. K. DEGENER 3,009,582

STORAGE RACK Filed Sept. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent @hice 3,009,582 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 3,009,582 STORAGE RACK Richard K. Degener, Grosse Pointe, Mich., assiguor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,577 11 Claims. (Cl. 211-177) This invention relates to storage racks and particularly to a storage rack of knockdown construction which is extremely rugged for supporting heavy loads.

The rack of the present invention employs separate corner posts of channel construction with the parallel side flanges reversely bent and extended inwardly in spaced relation to each other. The web of the channel has spaced slots for receiving locking elements which secure the supporting stringers and the spreader bars in fixed relation thereto. The stringers have U-shaped elements at the end from one edge of which a pair of notched fingers extend in position to be engaged by similar fingers of a clamping plate which is hooked in adjacent slots of a post. The spacing of the slots in the posts provides the increment of adjustment in height of the stringers which are thereby supported at different heights along the posts. The spreader bars interconnect a pair of the posts at the ends of the rack and are secured in locked relation thereto by sway bars and turnbuckles which are disposed in X-relation between the posts. With this arrangement, the stringers and post may be shipped disassembled within a very small package, smaller than the package required when the pair of end posts is shipped when in fixed relation to each other. It is understood, however, that the spreader and sway bars may be fixed to the posts to form a rigid structure therewith. The stringers have a step portion along the inner face which provides clearance for the clamping plate. When the stringers are hung on the front post and the back posts from the outside in, the ledges will face each other and may be employed for supporting filler strips between the stringers flush with the top thereof or recessed relative thereto. This provides a rugged platform for supporting bulk material which is stacked thereon.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide separate posts and stringers of like construction which are rigidly assembled to form a rugged storage rack; to construct a post of a rack from a channel-shaped element having the side flanges reversely bent and disposed in spaced parallel relation within the channel for receiving a U-shaped portion of a securing plate at the end of a stringer, the opposite end of which has sloping fingers which engage fingers of clamping plates secured to apertures in the web of the post; to provide stringers having a step portion on one side to clear the clamping plates and to form a ledge for supporting plates on which a load may be stacked; to provide a pair of posts for the end of a storage rack with spreader and sway bars for rigidly clamping the posts into a unit assembly; to interconnect the front and rear corner posts with stringers which are secured thereto by removable clamping plates at a selected height; and, in general, to provide a knock-down type of storage rack which is simple and rugged in construction, readily assembled and changeable in height, and which is economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunc tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a storage rack embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the storage rack of FIG. 1, with the parts in disassembled relation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4, as viewed along line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the end plate of the stringer portion of the assembly along with its locking plate disposed in spaced relation to each other;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 7-7 thereof at the upper portion of the post;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 9-9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is a broken perspective view of an end post having a pair of stringers secured thereto by end plates which are of different form from those heretofore illustrated; I

FIG. 11 is a broken view of an assembled rack with the front and rear posts facing in opposite directions to have the offset portions of the stringers facing each other for supporting wooden strips thereacross, and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged broken sectional view ofthe structure illustrated in FIG. 11, taken along the line 12-12 thereof.

The storage rack of the present invention comprises four corner posts 15, a plurality of stringers 16 spacing the corner posts on the longitudinal dimensions of the rack, and spreader bars 17 which space the corner posts on the transverse dimension of the rack. Each pair of end posts and the spacing spreader bars are secured in rigid relation to each other by a set of sway bars 18 and 19 tensioned by a turnbuckle 21 on the sway bar 19.

The posts 15 are alike in construction being of channel shape having a web 22, side flanges 23 and 24 which are reversely bent forming portions 25 and spaced parallel sections 26 within the channel. The portions 25 may be semicylindrical, as shown, or may be of V or other shape. The web 22 has rectangular apertures 27 therein spaced relative to each other a predetermined amount providing increments for spacing the stringers in height along the posts. The stringer as illustrated in FIG. 4 is of hollow construction and L-shape in cross section having the upper portion 31 of narrower width that the bottom portion thereof, providing a ledge 30' for a reason and purpose to be referred to hereinafter. Each end of the stringer has a supporting plate 32 welded thereto, the outer end 33 having a semicylindrical or other shaped portion which mates with the portion 25 of the post, the opposite end having a pair of spaced securing fingers 34 and 35. Locking plates 36 clamp the securing plates 32 to the post, the locking plates having spaced reversely extending fingers 37 at one edge which project into adjacent apertures of the post and upwardly presenting notched fingers 38 and 39 at the other edge which mate with the downwardly presenting notched fingers 34 and 35 of the plate 32. It will be noted that all of the fingers have sloping surfaces 41 which tend to pull both of the plates inwardly toward the adjacent Sides of the post to firmly engage the post and to positively lock a stringer thereto.

The pair of end posts are spaced transversely of the rack by a pair of spreader bars 17 which are of channel section of a width to extend between the inturned flanges of one of the posts. The spreader bars are provided with notches 43 near each end which engage the web 22 at the lower edge of a notch 27 of the post, one from the front and the other from the rear of the web since the channels of the posts face forwardly. A pair of sway bars 18 and 19 have the ends 44 bent at an angle of hook over the web 22 at the upper or lower edge of the notch 27 of the post. The posts and spreader bars are secured in fixed relation to each other when the turnbuckle 21 of the sway bar 19 is tightened. It will be noted that the side flanges of the spreader bars are spaced sufficiently apart to receive the ends 44 of the sway bars so that both bars may be hooked over the edge of the same notch 27. By employing the spreader and sway bars, the two end posts may be rigidly secured together when in use but may be separated so that the posts and bars will occupy a minimum of space for shipment. It is to be understood that spreader and/or sway elements may be welded to the posts to provide rigid unit end elements.

When erecting the storage rack, pairs of end posts are first secured together by the use of the spreader and sway bars as above described. A pair of the assembled posts are then stood on ends and spaced apart so that the stringers 16 can be secured thereto to form a rigid self-supporting rack structure. The bottom ends of the posts 15 are provided with feet having an aperture therein which permits the posts to be secured to the floor when it is desired to have the rack retained in a permanent location. It will be noted in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the channels of the posts face outwardly and that the stringers are placed from the front to the rear against the front face of the posts and are clamped in position by the locking plates which engage the proper slots 27 to attain the desired height for the load. Pairs of stringers may be applied at different heights to the posts depending upon the height and weight of the load. The rack may be extended in length by employing additional pairs of posts spaced a distance from an end pair equal to the length of the stringers.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that the engagement of the sloping surfaces 41 of the fingers 34 and 35 causes the semicylindrical end portion 33 of the plate 32 to be pulled into tight engagement with a semicylindrical edge portion of the post 15. From FIG. 5 it will be noted that the sloping edges 41 of the fingers 38 and 39 of the locking plate 36 draw the clamping plate 32 against the flanges 23 and 24 of the posts, as well as the locking plate 36, so that both of the plates firmly embrace the engaged web and channel portions and flange portions of the posts. When it is desired to disassemble the rack or to change the height of the stringers, it is only necessary to tap the ends of the stringers upwardly to release them from the locking plate 36 so that they may be removed or secured at a different height on the posts. When the rack is spaced from the wall sufficiently to permit a stringer to be applied thereto from the wall side, the adjacent posts may be faced outwardly, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, to have the webs containing the apertures 27 face inwardly and the channel portions face outwardly. The rear stringer is reversed end for end and secured from the wall side to the two rear posts to thereby have the shoulder portions thereof facing each other to form spaced ledges on which supporting strips 47 may be placed, disposed flush with the top of the stringer to form a removable platform. The offset shouldered portion 30 of the stringer is also useful to provide clearance for the fingers 38 of the locking plate 36 which is in alignment with the upper section of the stringer.

A somewhat different construction is illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein clamping plates 51 are provided on the end of stringers 52, the stringers being rectangular or other structural shape in cross section. The plates 51 have an outer flange 53 and an inner flange 54 joined together by a semicylindrical portion which engages the portion 25 of the post. The inner flange 54 is abutted against the end of the stringer 52 and secured thereto by welding. The outer flange 53 is provided with a pair of spaced fingers 55 and 56 which extend into adjacent apertures 27 in the post 15 and are locked therein by the sloping edges 41 which draw the semicylindrical portion of the clamping plate against the U-shaped portion 25 of the posts. Notches or holes 57 may be provided in the upper portion of the flanges 53 and 54 for receiving a clamping element which prevents the flanges from moving apart when the stringer is loaded to full capacity.

The supporting rack as herein illustrated and described is of the knockdown type requiring a minimum space for shipment and storage. The parts are readily assembled into a rugged structure which has maximum supporting capacity. The clamping and locking plates support the stringer on the post in rigid relation thereto due to the sloping engagement of the interconnecting fingers which draw the two plates against the side faces and the semicylindrical portions of the posts. Thus, the posts are spaced longitudinally from each other and are locked into rigid relation. Similarly, a pair of posts are spaced transversely in relation to each other at the ends by the spreader and sway bars which, when disposed in tightened relation, securely clamp the posts in spaced relation to each other from the front to the rear of the rack.

What is claimed is:

1. In a storage rack, a post having a channel section embodying a web having spaced vertically disposed apertures and pair of extending side flanges, the outer portions of the side flanges being reversely bent and spaced from each other and the inner portions of the side flanges, spreader bars of downwardly presenting channel shape having notches near the ends which extend over the bottom edge of an aperture, and rods extending into the channel ends of said spreader bars and hooked over the edge of the aperture.

2. In a storage rack, a post having a channel section embodying a web having spaced vertically disposed aper tures and a pair of extending side flanges, the outer portions of the side flanges being reversely bent to extend between the inner portions thereof from which the outer portions are spaced, spreader bars of downwardly presenting channel shape having notches near the ends which extend over the bottom edge of an aperture, rods extending into the channel ends of said spreader bars and hooked over the edge of the aperture, said rods being in crossed relation, and a turnbuckle disposed within at least one of said rods for applying tension to the assembly.

3. In a storage rack, a pair of posts for each end of the rack, said posts being of a channel section having a web containing a plurality of apertures and side flanges which are reversely bent to form a wide edge portion, means interconnecting each pair of posts to retain them in fixed spaced relation to each other of posts to retain them in fixed spaced relation to each other with the channel section of each post facing in the same direction toward the front side of the rack, stringers supported between the posts at the ends of the rack, said stringers having supporting plates secured on the ends thereof provided with U-shaped portions slidably engaging the wide edge portions of said posts to enable the stringers to slide vertically relative to the posts and to be disengaged from the postsby being shifted transversely toward-the front of said rack, and means releasably engageable with the apertures in said posts for locking the stringers against the vertical sliding movement and transverse movement toward the front face of the rack.

4. In a storage rack, a pair of posts for each end of the rack, said posts being of a channel section having a web containing a plurality of apertures and side flanges which are reversely bent to provide semicylindrical edge portions, means interconnecting each pair of posts to retain them in fixed spaced relation to each other with the open sides facing forward, stringers supported on the front and back posts of the pair having plates secured on the ends provided with locking fingers, said plates having reversely bent arcuate portions which mate with the reversely bent portions of the flange of the post, and additional plates having flanges projectable into the aperture in the web at one end and fingers at the other end which interlock with the locking fingers of the stringer plates.

5. In a storage rack, a pair of posts for each end of the rack, said posts being of a channel section having a web containing a plurality of apertures and side flanges which are reversely bent to form arcuate edge portions, removable means interconnecting each pair of posts to retain them in fixed spaced relation to each other with the open sides facing toward the front of the rack, stringers supported on the front and back posts of the pair having plates secured on the ends provided with locking fingers, said plates having an arcuate portion which mates with the arcuate portion of the flange of the post when moved toward the rear into engagement therewith, and additional plates having flanges projectable into the aperture in the web at one end and fingers at the other end which interlock With the locking fingers of the stringer plates, said fingers having sloping surfaces which draw the plates tightly against the adjacent faces of the post.

6. In a storage rack, two pairs of end posts of channel section having side flanges and a web, the latter of which contains spaced apertures, means for interconnecting a pair of posts to provide an upright for each end of the rack with the open face of the channel section facing toward the front, removable stringers for interconnecting the posts of the end uprights, plates on the ends of the stringers having a reversed end portion for engaging the ends of said flanges when moved toward the rear of the assembly to engage the posts, the opposite ends of the plates having extending fingers, and a locking plate for each stringer plate having spaced flanges which extend within a pair of apertures and having a pair of fingers which intenlock with the fingers on the stringer plates.

7. In a storage rack, two pairs of end posts of channel section having side flanges and a web, the latter of which contains spaced apertures, means for interconnecting a pair of posts with the open channel sides facing forwardly to provide uprights for the rack, removable stringers for interconnecting the posts of the uprights, plates on the ends of the stringers having a reversed end portion for encompassing the ends of said forwardly extending flanges when moved rearwa-rdly thereover, the opposite ends of the plates having extending fingers, a locking plate for each stringer plate having spaced flanges which extend within a pair of apertures and having a pair of fingers which interlock with the fingers on the stringer plates, said stringers having an offset portion providing a ledge which when facing each other form a shouldered support, and means supported by opposite ledges on which elements are stored,

8. In a storage rack, a pair of posts each having a channel section embodying a web having apertures and a pair of extending side flanges, the outer portions of the side flanges being reversely bent and spaced from each other and the inner portions of the side flanges, a spreader bar of downwardly presenting channel shape having notches near the ends thereof, one end of the spreader bar passing between the reversely bent flange portions of one of said posts and extending into an aperture in the post with the notch near the end thereof engaging the bottom edge of the aperture, the other end of said spreader bar extending into an aperture in the other of said posts with the notch in the end thereof engaging the bottom of the aperture, the other of said posts facing in the same direction as said one post, and sway bars extending diagonally between said pair of posts and secured thereto with the upper ends thereof being disposed within the downwardly presenting spreader bars and hooked over the bottom of the apertures engaged by the spreader bar.

9. In a storage rack, four posts, each having a channel section embodying a web having apertures and a pair of extending side flanges, the side flanges being reversely bent within the channel section to form semi-cylindrical edge portions, a spreader bar of downwardly presenting channel shape transversely disposed between a first pair of said posts to form a first set of spaced supports, a spreader bar of downwardly presenting channel shape disposed between a second pair of said posts to form' a second set of spaced supports, corresponding ends of each spreader bar extending between said flanges and releasably engaging the bottom edge of an aperture of the post associated therewith, the other ends of each of said spreader bars releasably engaging the bottom edge of an aperture of the post associated therewith, the other ends of each of said spreader bars releasably engaging the bottom edge of an aperture of the post associated therewith, the posts adjacent to the other ends of said spreader bars having the side flanges thereof facing in the same direction as the posts adjacent to'said corresponding ends of the spreader bars, sway bars extend-ing diagonally between the posts engaged by the spreader bars and releasably secured to the posts with the upper ends thereof being disposed within the downwardly presenting spreader bars and hooked over the bottom edges of the apertures engaged by the spreader bars, stringers extending between said first and second sets of posts having supporting plates on the ends thereof, and means releasably locking said plates to the semicylindrical edge portions of the posts.

10. In a storage rack, four posts each having a channel section embodying a web having apertures and a pair of extending side flanges, the side flanges being reversely bent Within the channel section to form semicylindrical edge portions, a removable bar transversely disposed between a first pair of said posts to form a first set of spaced supports, a removable bar transversely disposed between a second pair of said posts to form a second set of spaced supports, and stringers longitudinally secured between the posts of said first and second sets of spaced supports, the channel section of each of said posts facing in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal stringers, said stringers having a semi-cylindrical supporting plate at each end engageable with the semi-cylindrical edge portions of said posts to enable the stringers to slide vertically on the posts and to be disconnected from the posts by being moved transversely in said one direction, said supporting plate having fingers thereon releasably engageable with the apertures in said posts to lock the stringers against the vertical sliding movement and transverse movement in said one direction.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said fingers are formed on said supporting plates in position to lie outside said channel sections and project transversely beyond the webs of said posts, and a locking plate associated with each of said supporting plates having a pair of flanges extending in adjacent apertures of a post and having fingers disposed in locking engagement 7 with the fingers of the supporting plate associated therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,060 Vance Mar. 3, 1931 2,380,379 Attwood July 31, 1945 2,765,087 Weinbaum Oct. 2, 1956 Germany, International German application, Ser. No.

8 Skar Dec. 4, 1956 Kindorf Mar. 12, 1957 Franks Dec. 3, 1957 Slater Feb. 3, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES C8531v./37b June 21, 1956 (Kl.37b 5). 

